2009 Bills Training Camp: Day Two Open Thread
by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2009 7:30 AM EDT
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintDay one of 2009 Buffalo Bills training camp was hit-and-miss for the team as they knocked the rust off after a lengthy layoff from football. Terrell Owens was, of course, the prevailing story of the day, but his teammates made a few plays to keep the conversation from being centered entirely around Buffalo's shiny new offensive toy.
This is an open thread for day two of Bills training camp - the second and final two-a-day orchestrated by head coach Dick Jauron (though, for those with ants in their pants about Jauron's "soft" camps, it should be noted that plenty of pads practices loom). We'll be providing updates throughout the day, just as we did yesterday. Those updates appear after the jump.
8:52 AM: MRW reports that DT Marcus Stroud is not practicing today, as expected. Stroud has a minor hamstring injury that he's dealing with; he's likely being held out as a precautionary measure.
9:25 AM: Good news on the Trent Edwards front - after a rusty day one, MRW reports that Edwards is "looking much better" so far.
Some interesting things are happening at receiver, as well, with Roscoe Parrish taking reps ahead of fan favorite Steve Johnson. Meanwhile, the Bills are working on some no-huddle sets this morning, utilizing tight ends Derek Schouman and rookie Shawn Nelson (who has impressed Matt with his athleticism) out wide. Derek Fine, Jonathan Stupar and Travis McCall are being used as "in-line" tight ends.
10:05 AM: Wow - Matt's tweeting up a storm this morning. Trent Edwards is now officially having a great day, folks - judging purely from Matt's tweets, he's hit five passes of twenty yards or longer, including three to T.O. - one of which was another long touchdown throw. Lee Evans and Derek Fine were in on the act as well. (Edwards did apparently do a face plant on a scramble, proving once again that he is, in fact, very human.)
The bad news is that CB Leodis McKelvin has been victimized on most of these big gainers from Edwards.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is having another poor day, however, missing throws and tossing an interception (Nic Harris). He did, however, have a lengthy scoring play to Steve Johnson.
Fred Jackson is once again getting reps at wide receiver. But perhaps the biggest news of the day is this: "I just saw a play action pass, guys."
11:15 AM: Morning practice is over, and by all accounts, it was a smooth, crisp one for pretty much everybody involved. Bills have another practice this afternoon, and once again, MRW will be there. Stay tuned...
3:14 PM: The afternoon practice is now underway, and as MRW reports, special teams coordinator Bobby April is beginning to show his adjustments to the new special teams wedge rules. We'll let Matt explain in full, via Twitter:
Instead of the wedge they have two sets of two with a gap and a big dude about three yards behind in that gap. Using a bunch of groups of 2
Matt also notes that unlike previous seasons, when reserve linemen (such as Jason Whittle and Kirk Chambers) were used, smaller, faster players are being used on returns, with Spencer Johnson the only "big" on the field.
3:20 PM: Shawn Nelson is opening some eyes, including MRW's. Matt tweets that Nelson, who is currently getting reps with the first team offense, is looking great lining up wide as well as releasing from the line. Granted, hitting is at a minimum, but good news is good news.
3:34 PM: Trent Edwards' strong day continues, as MRW reports he just hit Lee Evans on another long scoring play.
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If you want to know something particular, direct message me on twitter or let Brian know and he can do the same. St John Fischer here I come!
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
Can you please find out how Chris Ellis looks?
Is he bigger, faster, is he with the second team? I still have some high hopes for him. He just needed some time to put some muscle on I think.
Matt just tweeted about Ellis, actually – he absolutely abused Shawn Nelson in a blocking drill, disposing of him on the turf.
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"Our style is simple but not that easy. Roll up your sleeves and play good, solid football." -- Marv Levy
by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
nice
Ellis is a huge X factor this summer. Not every player transitions to the NFL with ease, and he has desirable size for better run support at the end position…but of course, Shawn Nelson is not known for his blocking.
The Bills CAN win any game
by killascript on Jul 26, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Shawn Nelson is not known for his blocking
He might not be known as a great blocker, but I do remember reading about how his college coaches liked to use him as their primary blocker in the red zone. How that translates to the NFL however is yet to be seen.
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 27, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
To piggyback...
It was a run set in 11 on 11. He friggin hip tossed Nelson. Just flat out rocked him. Ellis was cool. Signed autographs before practice.
Ellis is running with the second team for now. That will probably change when Maybin gets in.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 26, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Are guys signing and talking to fans alot before and after practice?
Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 26, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah.
They are pretty good about it. There are usually a handful who stay after each practice. Before there weren’t a lot.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 26, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks
I actually watched him alot when he was at Va tech and I loved his first step. I figured he would take a little time to gain strength though. I think he will be the suprise of this season. I could see him take over for Kelsey by week 6.
A rare burst of positivity...
The bad news is that CB Leodis McKelvin has been victimized on most of these big gainers from Edwards.
I actually see this as good news. Let McKelvin get abused all summer long by Owens and Evans. It will only make him better as he learns to handle bigger WRs as well as burners.
Let's hope he doesn't have a learning disability.
"I BET YOU IF WE PUT A 12 DOZEN GLAZE DONUTS AT THE OTHER END ON KICK RETURN JAIME DUKES WILL BE OUR NUM # 1 RETURNER …… HOW YOU LIKE THEM APPLES DUKE APPLE PIE PUNKEN EATER DWINKE SMASHER DING DONG FLABER" - abayarde
heard him interviewed on Sirius….it is a fair question. However, I don’t mind single minded god-fearing football players. He looked demon fast on his int return the first day.
The Bills CAN win any game
God-fearing… demon fast.
I like the biblical terminology.
Delightfully Ignoring The Truth since 1995.
by NeverendingOptimism on Jul 26, 2009 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions
The guys I was next to at camp said the same thing.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 26, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
God I hope your right. Because if he can learn how to handle them, then there is no limit to how good McKelvin can become.
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 27, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I am going this afternoon.
My interests going in are 1.) Yes to see the man that everyone hates and loves. 2.) Keeping a close eye on Leo, not sure if he is ready yet for a full season as starting CB. Glad we have depth, sorry but we will need it. 3.) Thomas, Bowen and Ellis. Free Agent singee and two prominent draftees from a year ago that we lost to injury. Such a nasty trend for us the last few years. Oh and Poz. Anything I can offer let me know, not sure when I can get back and can’t expect much on the first weekend.
Go Play Action Pass
This would be nice, was it during the no huddle? We need Fitzpatrick to shake that rust off ASAP. I am not dissappointed we got him, but obviously he needs to get his act together early on. I know he will see alot of PreSeason action but lets not wait for it, get er done now.
I will check back in before I leave, guys. If you want me to keep an eye on someone let me know. The lines are not getting a lot of love since it’s shirt and shorts.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 26, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions
Oh yeah…
Buggs was getting second team reps at MLB during most of the day. Thomas began the day there but the vast majority of snaps was Buggs. If I had to make a call now I say Buggs makes the roster in place of Digi.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 26, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions
No...
that’s what I meant, though. The release of Digi frees up a roster spot for a guy like Buggs.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 26, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Who is this Buggs guy? Sorry I never herd of him and wouldn’t mind a little background on the type of player he is.
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 27, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
http://www.buffalobills.com/team/roster/Marcus-Buggs/dcd62060-85c7-4279-ad3c-8ac6f42e0cd7
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/34853/Marcus_Buggs
I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying
by J2 on Jul 27, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
thanks
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 27, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not surprised...
I didn’t know who he was until I saw him taking second team reps. He is an undrafted free agent from last year. That’s why you don’t know him.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 27, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Justise Hairston is likely done for the year.
He wasn’t going to make the team, but he could have been a PS player for us….
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
McKelvin
Everyone is penciling McKelvin in at CB #2 but if he is the player that struggles and you see either Youbouty or Florence take the #2 CB spot then so be it. I am not including Corner for the #2 CB spot bc he seems to be concentrating solely on nickle corner. I would rather see the offense click and McKelvin struggle. He will either improve or play the nickle or dime CB spot which will allow his legs to be fresh to return kicks.
Most of the teams we play do not have an elite #2 WR. Excluding Welker the best #2 receivers we will see include Lance Moore (who is injured and going to miss training camp time), Anthony Gonzalez, Walter, Greg Camarillo (if he beats out Bess), and Mushin Muhamed. None of those guys are that intimidating and none of those guys are so dangerous I would be worried if Youbouty or Florence was on them. If you go down the list of teams we play and exclude their top WR the Pats and maybe the Colts w.would have 2 receivers in the top 40.
We do play a ton of top pass catching RBs and TEs. OUr LB and Safety coverage is going to be more important to follow during training camp.
This of course assumes that McGee will be perfectly for the whole season. If things are a bit shaky after him, it might only take a game or two or maybe even just a series or two, for it to matter. On the other hand, cornerback is a position of high potential and depth, and this is merely the second day of camp.
The Bills play their CBs on sides and don’t try and match up against certain WRs. At least that’s what they’ve done the last couple of years. If teams want to line up their best guy (Moss, Colston, Andre Johnson, Antonio Bryant, Roddy White, Dwayne Bowe, Reggie Wayne, etc …) across from McKelvin, they shouldn’t have any problems doing so. I’d be very surprised if there aren’t at least a few games where McKelvin gets ripped to shreds. Hopefully an athletic safety like Whitner or Byrd can give Leo a lot of help over the top this year and at least limit the big plays he gives up. That should help keep his confidence high.
Just wanted to let y’all know that this thread is still updating now that the second practice is underway.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"Our style is simple but not that easy. Roll up your sleeves and play good, solid football." -- Marv Levy
by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2009 3:16 PM EDT reply actions
Instead of the wedge they have two sets of two with a gap and a big dude about three yards behind in that gap. Using a bunch of groups of 2
So it looks like the no wedge rule isn’t going to change anything except for the way that teams set up their wedge. I wonder if we’ll see some flags early in preseason with teams trying to see what they can get away with.
Thats very likely. Theres no place thats better to test the waters than the preseason.
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 27, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
MRW just noted Bell is running with the 2nd team at LT
Interesting… of course, no pads, but it speaks well of his progress so far.
Might be more to do with Chambers being a part of the 1st unit at Guard….
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
or their lack of depth at LT.
Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 26, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions
i love nelson
i wanted him before we drafted him, and was always against pettigrew. i think petti will be a good TE, but we needed other things in round 1. anyways i think nelson can really be a premier receiving TE in this league.
Bills make me wanna SHOUT!
K!!! This didn’t go through on Twitter. Sorry man.
This morning during position work Kelsay got knocked down bybackup tackle jonathan scott. He was so pissed at Scott he dropped a huge F bomb on the whole place and sat out the rest of the drill.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 26, 2009 5:10 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Well, at least it’s a sign he’s not going at it with the demeanor of Jimmy Buffet so far.
Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 26, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
What a crybaby!
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
He didn’t sit out for pouting… the coaches separated the two of them.
I think he was mroe pissed that the guy risked injuring him. Oh well. I thought of you. :-)
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 26, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Evans Touchdown
Evans made a fabulous catch on that TD Pass from Edwards. All of fifty yards in the air and between two defenders. Evans pulled the ball down in the endzone. The down side of the play was Trent probably would of been sacked. We will never know, because no pads and the red shirt thing. Either way Evans grab was almost as spectacular as Owens fake he put on McKelvin on a quick in then reverse down the left sideline. McKelvin was flat on his touch.
I couldn't see it.
I was in the corner where the DBs were practicing and the line of players watching was in front of me. I heard the crowd, though. I bet it was great.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 26, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions
The Special Team Segment
Picture a five man front, followed by a One, Two, One Two formation. The two’s are spread to the hash marks. The One’s are centered between the hash marks. The final two being the KO return men. The one two one is used to form the two man wedge depending on which side of the field the ball travels too. The man at the point of the One, Two, One formation looks like a blocker for the first man through the front five. Then you have the two man wedge and the ball carrier has a lead blocker. Hope this makes some sense.
It is really hard to explain…
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jul 26, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions
April was in total control during the ST Segment
It was pretty cool watching Bobby April out in the center of the field with mega phone. He had his fifteen minute period and shuffled four units through the instruction. It seemed the front five dropped back about ten yards to form a wall. I would say the wall was about 20 yards wide. This wall would form to the side of the kick but not to the point where the opposite side was exposed. There were variations with the next four players. The top one seemed to step up and provide support as if the wall were to get penetrated. The next three would form a two man wedge with the third guy guarding against the wide side of the field. The return man would then have a lead blocker, a blocker protecting the wides side of the field and the two man wedge forming about 20 yards behind the wall. It was cool to see. Considering April is one of the best if not the best. He was loving life you could tell. It was fun to see him. He had one unit on one end of the field another at the opposite end. He rotated instructions and each unit would simulate live action. Those two units left the field and another two trotted on. He repeated everything so all were involved. Lindell even kicked the ball down to them. I can’t wait to see the variations he pulls from this as the season grows.
Something like this?
(forgive my MS Paint “skillz”)
by Mark Parisi on Jul 26, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Correct formation
The middle two, one of them would drop back to form the two man wedge with the remaining guy protecting against the wide side. I think the wedge was formed to the side of the kick. good graphic though.
I love hearing about all these long scoring plays from Edwards.
A lot of us (including me) were worried that Trent would still be scared of throwing the long ones. I guess that he isn’t anymore. Ok granted this is only practise, but it is still a very encouraging sign of what trent could do this year.
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 27, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions
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